The combined assets of the nation’s exchange-traded funds (ETFs)totalled about $296.0 billion at the end of December 2005, up from the$289.0 billion figure reported at the end of November, according todata released today by the Investment Company Institute (ICI).

Overall, in calendar 2005, ETF assets grew by nearly 31% from the end of December 2004.

At the end of December, 201 ETFs were in operation, five more than inthe prior month. Of the total, 146 ETFs tracked domestic stock indexesand held assets of $215.8 billion. Forty-nine ETFs trackedglobal/international equity indexes and held assets of $65.2 billion.Another six ETFs tracked bond indexes, holding assets of $15.0 billion.

The ICI also noted that assets of domestic equity ETFs increased by$1.7 billion in December, and international equity ETF assets increasedby $5.4 billion.

In addition, the value of all ETF shares issued exceeded that of shares redeemed by $5.9 billion.

Net issuance, which is gross issuance minus redemptions, is roughlyequivalent to the unit of net new cash flow that is used forconventional mutual funds.

Below is a list of the five largest ETFs.*

ETF

Assets as of 12/30/05 (In billions)

One-Year Returns Through 12/30/05 (%)

S&P Depository Receipts (SPY)

$58.5

+4.8

iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (EFA)

$22.7

+13.4

Nasdaq-100 Trust Ser 1 (QQQQ)

$20.3

+1.4

iShares S&P 500 Index (IVV)

$14.2

+4.8

iShares MSCI Japan Index (EWJ)

$13.0

+24.7

*Source: Standard & Poor’s.

The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.